Michigan Forms

Berrien County Notice of Commencement Form

Berrien County Notice of Commencement Form

Berrien County Notice of Commencement Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 5/15/2025
Berrien County Notice of Commencement Guide

Berrien County Notice of Commencement Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 8/4/2025
Berrien County Completed Example of the Notice of Commencement Form

Berrien County Completed Example of the Notice of Commencement Form

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 8/11/2025

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

Important: Your property must be located in Berrien County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Berrien County Register of Deeds
Address:
701 Main St
St. Joseph, Michigan 49085

Hours: 8:30 to 5:00 M-F

Phone: (269) 983-7111 Ext. 8562

Recording Tips for Berrien County:
  • Double-check legal descriptions match your existing deed
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers
  • Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
  • Ask about their eRecording option for future transactions
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates

Cities and Jurisdictions in Berrien County

Properties in any of these areas use Berrien County forms:

  • Baroda
  • Benton Harbor
  • Berrien Center
  • Berrien Springs
  • Bridgman
  • Buchanan
  • Coloma
  • Eau Claire
  • Galien
  • Hagar Shores
  • Harbert
  • Lakeside
  • New Buffalo
  • New Troy
  • Niles
  • Riverside
  • Saint Joseph
  • Sawyer
  • Sodus
  • Stevensville
  • Three Oaks
  • Union Pier
  • Watervliet

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Berrien County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Berrien County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.

Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Berrien County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Berrien County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.

Can I reuse these forms?

Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Berrien County you only need to order once.

What do I need to use these forms?

The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.

Are there any recurring fees?

No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.

How much does it cost to record in Berrien County?

Recording fees in Berrien County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (269) 983-7111 Ext. 8562 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Using a Notice of Commencement in Michigan

A Notice of Commencement is a form executed by a land owner or lessee before the start of any actual physical improvement to real property. The owner or lessee contracting for the improvements must record a Notice of Commencement in the office of the register of deeds for each county in which the real property to be improved is located. M.C.L. 570.1108(1). Recording a Notice of Commencement also starts the clock ticking for the contractor, subcontractor, or supplier to file his or her Notice of Furnishing.

The notice of commencement must contain the following information: (1) the legal description of the real property on which the improvement is to be made; (2) the name, address, and capacity of the owner or lessee of the real property contracting for the improvement; (3) the name and address of the fee owner of the real property, if the person contracting for the improvement is a land contract vendee or lessee; (4) the name and address of the owner's or lessee's designee; and (5) the name and address of the general contractor, if any. M.C.L. 570.1108(2).

Even if parts of the Notice are inaccurate, any incorrect information contained in the Notice of Commencement furnished by or for an owner or lessee will not harmfully affect the rights of a lien claimant as against the property of that owner or lessee. M.C.L. 570.1108(4).

As a property owner, lessee, or designee, you also have a responsibility to provide a copy of the Notice of Commencement, together with an attached blank Notice of Furnishing form, to the subcontractor, supplier, or laborer requesting a copy of the Notice of Commencement within 10 days after the date of mailing of a written request by certified mail from a subcontractor, supplier, or laborer. M.C.L. 570.1108(5).

The Notice should also be posted on the actual jobsite. The owner, lessee, or designee must post and keep posted a copy of the notice of commencement in a conspicuous place on the real property described in the notice during the actual physical improvement to the real property. M.C.L. 570.1108(6).

As a reminder, this article is posted for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Please contact a Michigan-licensed attorney with questions about the Notice of Commencement or any other issue related to liens.

Important: Your property must be located in Berrien County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

This Notice of Commencement meets all recording requirements specific to Berrien County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Berrien County recording requirements for formatting. If there's an issue caused by our formatting, we'll make it right and refund your payment.

Save Time and Money

Get your Berrien County Notice of Commencement form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.

4.8 out of 5 - ( 4580 Reviews )

John H.

April 19th, 2021

I haven't begun yet, but this looks like what I need.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

EMMA J.

January 28th, 2022

I am still learning how this work. Right now this is the form I need. I thank you. I will give survey again once I have completed this form.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Gretchen D.

January 7th, 2019

Quick and easy process to get the documents, and helpful to see the example filled out.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback Gretchen, we really appreciate it. Have a great day!

MARY LACEY M.

June 25th, 2020

Excellent service! From setting up an account to successfully recording, the instructions were clear and easy to follow. I am very pleased to have this service available, and favorably impressed by our current Maricopa County Recorder for pursuing its availability. Thank you.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Peter M.

February 3rd, 2020

Quick and complete. Thanks!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Joseph I.

July 27th, 2021

Your instructions and sample are geared towards businesses. It would have been helpful to have included some for us individuals as married couples as well. I also recall one or two spelling errors on the form that I could not fix, and the instructions seem to be for a prior form. This particular registry also required a stamped self-addressed envelope for return of documents. Hey, you asked! Overall, pleased.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Charles S.

May 11th, 2025

It's useful to have forms specific to the County as well as the State. The examples are also helpful, but it would be even more helpful to see an example of a complete and successfully filed package. I will go the County Recorder's Office to see if I can find an example there.

Reply from Staff

Your insights are invaluable to us and help us strive for better service. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Tom B.

December 18th, 2020

I ended up loading the same file twice and was unable to delete one of them. I did send e request in to have one deleted and I did get a response back that only one file was processed. This was done in a timely manner but required more additional time. It would have been nice to be able to delete the file myself and finish the process at the same time. Other than this every thing did go very well. Thank you

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Marcus F.

April 15th, 2025

Great resource! I was in a bind being out of state and deeds.com came through in a pinch for a very good price! If I need esigning again this is where I'll be coming.

Reply from Staff

Your words of encouragement and feedback are greatly appreciated. They motivate us to maintain high standards in our service.

James J.

February 26th, 2019

The form itself was very good and easy to use. The only problem I had was the Sample they provided. Using a different name in every spot doesnt help determine what goes where. Using "Theodore Rockafeller" as Lien Claimant in one spot and Jebediah Finklestein in another then Harvey Johnson in the last spot is confusing if you really need a helpful sample.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback James. We will have staff review the completed example to see if we can make it more helpful. Have a great day!

Joy V.

December 24th, 2018

Very helpful and efficient!

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Carol M.

January 13th, 2020

Great service

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Richard B.

May 27th, 2022

Had trouble filling in the forms not very user friendly. The text always had to be manipulated to look in the best place. Could not easily move existing text to look more professional with the text being inserted.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Constance F.

August 27th, 2021

Quick and easy download with instructions and a sample document to ensure conformity to the different jurisdictions.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Andrew S.

October 14th, 2020

This is fast and easy.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!